What are the responsibilities and job description for the Associate Software Engineer position at Haystack?
Associate Software Engineer | Hybrid | $57,850 - $104,575
Locations: Gaithersburg, MD; Eagan, MN; or Egg Harbor, NJ.
We're working with a global leader in mission-critical aerospace technology and national defense modernization on this exciting opportunity. You’ll join an elite engineering team building real-time, high-availability, safety-critical systems that quite literally keep the skies safe by powering the UK’s National Airspace System.
This is a rare chance for an early-career engineer to work with high-stakes technologies like C , Red Hat Linux, and low-level protocols in an environment where failure isn't an option. If you thrive on solving complex, multi-threaded challenges and want to see your code impact real-world infrastructure, this is your launchpad.
The Role
• Design and maintain real-time, multi-threaded software for safety-critical air traffic control systems.
• Tackle complex system integration tasks, working directly with hardware and low-level communication interfaces.
• Develop and deploy automation scripts to streamline testing and production workflows across virtualized environments.
• Collaborate in a fast-paced Agile environment, participating in daily stand-ups, sprint reviews, and technical planning sessions.
• Ensure system reliability by applying modern software engineering principles for fault-tolerant and maintainable code.
What You'll Need
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or a related technical field with a strong grasp of Object-Oriented Programming.
• Proven proficiency in C and/or C (experience with Ada is a massive bonus).
• Hands-on experience with Linux environments (specifically Red Hat), Virtual Machines, and Hypervisors.
• Solid understanding of low-level networking protocols including TCP/IP, UDP, and SCTP.
• US Citizenship and the ability to obtain a Public Trust clearance are mandatory for this role.
What's On Offer
• Competitive salary range of $57,850 - $104,575 with comprehensive health, wellness, and retirement benefits.
• Balanced hybrid workflow (2-3 days in-office) providing both professional collaboration and personal flexibility.
• Opportunity to modernize national-scale infrastructure using cutting-edge AI/ML integration tools and automation frameworks.
• Clear career trajectory within a massive technology organization known for outpacing the status quo in defense and aerospace.
Apply via Haystack today!
Salary : $57,850 - $104,575